Folding and plaiting machine.



k. e. R. HAWKINS. FOLDING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2|, 1918. 1,287,986.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHE K. G. R. HAWKINS. FOLD'lNG AND PLAITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21. 1918.

Patented Dec. 17

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E as iii/Z617? @21/ ms K. e. R. HAWKINS FOLDING AND PLAITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNEZI. I918. 1,287,986. Patented Dec. 17,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4 signed for UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

KARL G. It. HAWKINS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOILBY MESIFE ASSJ IGNMENTS, TO DAVID S. GARDNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING, AND PLAITING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern: 1

. Be it known that I, KARL G. R. HAWKINS, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of'Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding and Plaiting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

This invention relates to a machine dethe purpose of plaiting, folding or crinkling strips of paper, preferably strips which have been perforated transversely, so that when the strip is plaited longitudinally, the small plaited sections of the strip may be detached from one another. It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a machine adapted to receive paper strips laid thereon, and to move the strips between creasing rolls, thereafter compressing the strips to form plaits or folds therein, and to hold the same against a heated surface in orderto set the folds in the strip and thereafter to discharge the same from the machine.

' It is also an object of this invention to construct a machine adapted to fold material into accordion plaits and to tightly compress and crease the same against-a heated surface so as to permauentlv set the folds therein, finally positively discharging the material from the machine, coincident with a return of the parts ofthe machine to normal position for the reception of additional material.

It is furthermore an important object of this invention to construct a machine adapted to receive material laid thereon, to feed the same between creasing. rollers, and thereafter to compress the same under spring pressure against the heating plate, which is subsequentlywithdrawn from the strip to permit positive ejection of the strip from between its feeding means and said heating plate in plaited condition.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be evident from the disclosure in the drawings and specification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed June 21, 1918. Serial No 241,285.

Fig. 4 is a sect anal detailon line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on line 7-7 of Fig. 1. 5

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a transversely perforated strip of paper, before plaiting.

Fig. 9 is an end view thereof, after crease ing, preliminary to folding.

Fig. 10 is an end tier of a completely folded or plaited strip.

As shown on the drawings: The reference numeral 1, indicates as a whole a table, bed, or supporting frame for the machine which may be mounted in any suitable manner and in any convenient po sition for use, and said bed plate is provided with forwardly'extendi'ng arms 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Secured u on the arm extensions 2, are bearing bloc .s 3 in which a shaft 4, is journaled, provided with a large gear 5. Also secured upon one of said arm extensions 2, is another bearing block 6, through which a shaft 7, is journaled provided on one end with a driving pulley 8, and on the other end with a pinion 9, meshing with the large gear 5.

Attached upon the bed clearly in Fig. 3, are outer guide bars 10, and inner guide bars 11, and'slidable therebetween is a carriage consisting of long slide bars 12. each formed with teeth along a portion of the upper edge forming a rack 13,

and each at its rear end is provided with an late 1, as shown tached between said bearing blocks 26, is a hearing behind the blocks 15, so that said shown in Fig. 5, the forward ends of each of said bars 21, are'fork-shaped as denoted by the reference numeraln23, and extend downwardly and fit over another cross-piece 24, secured transversely on the frame bed 1. Said fork-portions of the bars 21, fit over a transversely extending shaft 25, which at its ends is journaled in bearing blocks 26, mounted one on each side of the machine. At-

crossanernber 27, and secured thereby by clamping liars 28 and 29, on each side of said cross-piece are forkashaped plates 30, which extend downwardly closely to and in register with the edges of the bars 21. Journaled transversely on the machine in bearing blocks 26, is anothershaft 31, above and parallel to the shaft 25, and extending through the fork-shaped plates 30. Said shafts 25 and 31, are provided on their outer ends with intermeshing pinions 32 and 33, respectively, and as shown in-' Fig. 2, wide idler pinions 34, are mounted on each of the bearing blocks 26, and each meshes with one of the pinions 32. and with a rack 13. Mounted upon each of the respective shafts 25 and 31, are a series of toothed segment folding or creasing rollers 25", and 31, respectively,

the toothed. portions of which are adapted to mesh when the shafts are rotated by their intermeshing pinions. v

Slidably mounted between the inner guide bars 11, as shown in Figs. 1 and5, is a fiat plate 35, which extends transversely of the machine, and at its forward edge it provided with an upright portion 36. Integral with the upright portion 36, are a plurality of rearwardly extondin g arms 37,,and pivoted thereon as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5, are for-- wardly extending, arms 38. The forward upsection.

per portion of the face of the upright portion 36, is cored out, and disposed therein is a heating coil 39, shown in Fig. 5, and attached thereover is a heating plate 40, of T Secured on the under portion of the forward ends of the respective arms 38, is an ejecting bar 41, adapted to be thrust downwardly over the heating plate 40. Up.- riglits 42, are secured upon the bed frame 1,

'one at each side and onecentrally thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, and secured rigidly there in is airansversely extending cross-bar 43,

beneath which the rear end of each of the arms 32, .s normally dlsposeda As shown clearly indetail view in Fig. 6, each of said arms 38, is normally impelled upwardly in the position shown in Fig. 5, by coiled springs 44, seated in recesses provided therefor in the rearwardly extending arms 37.

' Secured upon the outer end of the shaft 4, are cam wheels 45, each having a cam groove 46, therein. The ends of the respective slide bars 12, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

are provided with rollers which fit into the respective cam grooves 46, whereby, due to rotation of the cam wheels 45, a certain oscillation or reciprocating movement of said bars 12, is caused to take place. Also mountr ed upon said shaft 4, are cam wheels 47 each provided with a cam groove 48, as shown in Fig. 5, and rea'rwardly extending arms- 49, integral with the plate 35, are provided with rollers which engage in said cam grooves for a certain operative movement of the plate 35 36.

Fig. 8, shows in plan view a strip ofpaper denoted by the reference numeral 50,'which is transversely perforated with indicating characters marked upon each perforated division. It is desirable to crinkle or fold said strip of paper into plaited form with the plaits extending longitudinally, that is, at right angles to the lines of perforation therein, so that the strip .when completed will have the form shown in Fig. 10. When bearing blocks 26, and are so disposed that when the plate 18, has been broug t in position to hold the strip against the heating plate 40, a further forward movement of the plate 18, under the stress of its springs, dueto a retraction of the heating plate, will cause the blocks 15, to contact said stops and limit further forward movement thereof.

. The operation is as follows:

A strip of paper such as shown in Fig. 8, is laid transversely of the machine 'upon the top edges of thebars 21, shown in Fig. 1, in front of the forward or feeding edge of the fiat plate '18. As the cam wheels 45, rotate, the cam grooves 46, therein, serve to draw the slide bars 12, inwardly thereby sliding the flat plate 18, forwardly over the bars 21, and feeding the paper strip 50, beneath thedepending fork-plates 30, and into the field of operation of the segment toothed folder rolls 25 and 31. That is, the plate 18, feeds the strip forwardly sufliciently to cause said rolls to engage with the strip, inasmuch as the rolls have rotated into position for the teeth to engage with the strip, and thereby continue the feeding The opposite portions of the can? i ,ssmee ing motion iimparted to the rolls due to he fact that arms 12, which slide the plate 18, inn: dly are each provided with the rack teeth i3, which drive the respective idler gears 34:, on each side of the machine, and which in turn drive the intermeshing pinions 32 and 33.

The operation of the parts is so timed that the toothed portions of said rolls and 3? have passed out of mesh at the time that the plate 18, is introduced therehetween to contact the rear edge of thccreased paper strip and continue the feeding movement thereof into and against heating 'plate 40. Said plate 18, serves to press the creased strip against the hea ing ing the creased strip from shown in Fig. 9, to that she inc condition a in 10. *coves 416,

to that show 1 in Fig. 2, are ther- "i engage in with the rollers on the s of the s bars 12, aii'ording a rest p 0d,:1nd

plate is held against the folded strip pring pressnre, owing to the fact plate 18. is tied on the clocks 5,

"Y. which i from the uprights Iii. SeCl'iIe e bars 12.

The stops 51, secured on the outer ends of the bearing blocks 2%, disposed that said blocks 15, on which the 'plate18, is mounted, cannot travel heyond a predetermined distance when the comaressive ei'iect on the springs 19. is relea .l. to the retraction-of the heating plate 4-0, as described in the following.

After the creased and folded paper strips have been held for a time against the heated plate 40, the cam Wheels e: 'JIYE rotated suiiioiently so that the cam groo there in cause a retraction of the plate -36, on which the heating plate is mourned. and at the same time the pivoted arms 38, carried thereby are thrust beneath the stationarv' ere ss-piece43. shown in Fig. 5, causing: said arms to be depressed, as shown in 6'. thereby actuating the bar 41, the heating plate 40, to eject the ioidcd and creased strip therefrom, and the strip is discharged through the slot 52, in the iced plate.

1% course, immediately thereafter, the cam wheels 45, serve to return the feed plate 18,

back to'initial osition and similarlv the i i cam "Wheels 47, operate to return the plate 35-36. to normal. readv for another folding operation.

T am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and '1' therefore do not p11. nose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

,, aim as my invention "1 IA creasing and folding machine comprising a, heating plate, mechanism for feed ate thereby fold mechanism adapted to ie for creasing said. material on its way to the heating plate, said mechanism adapted to compress the creased material against the heating plate, and mechanism retracting said heating plate to permit discharge of the. material therefrom.

, 2. A machine for creasing material comprising a feeding mechanism, toothed sector creasing rolls, driving means therefor operated by the feeding mechanism, an abutment plate against which the material is pressed in creased relation after passage he tween said creasing rolls, and means for retracting said abutment plate from said feeding mechanism to permit discharge of the folded creased material.

3. A creasing machine comprising a heated ahutment, feeding mechanism adapted to press material toward the same and to compress the creased material there-against. and means operating on the material prior to contact with said abutment to crease the same whereby the material is folded as it is pressed against said abutment.

4. A ioidinp and creasing machine comprising plate. feeding mechanism to thrust material thereagainst, mecha nism operating to crease the material on its Way toward said abutment plate so as to be folded when pressed thereag'ainst, and mechanism retracting said abutment plate to permit discharge of: the creased folded material.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a heated alcntn t plate, feeding a material toward said and to compress the material. thereag'ainst to a permanent fold thereto, mechanism operating to crease the material on its Way to said abutment plate. and meansretracting said heated abutment plate from said feeding means to permit dis' charge of the folded material.

in a machine of the class described, an abutment plate, a feeding mechanism adapted to press material thereagainst, creasing devices operating to impart crease to the material prior to its movement against the ahutment late, and drivi connections between sci creasing mec anism and said feeding mechanism.

. 7. A machine of the-class described comprising a men, a plurality ofsupporting hare thereon to receive a paper strip depos ited thereon, a feeding plate spring impelled in one direction adapted to be, moved over said bars to feed a strip of paper therealong, co-acting toothed rollers operating between saidbars to impart a crease to the paper moved thereover, a heated abutment plate adapted to receive the creased paper thrust thereagainst by said spring impelled feeding plate to impart a permanent fold to said material, and. inechamsin acting to retract thereover to slide the material therea'long,-

co-acting toothed rollers operating to crease the material passed-,therebetween by said feeding plate, operative driving connections between said feeding plate and said creasing rollers, and a heated plate adapted to receive the material thrust, thereagainst by said feeding plate to impart a permanent fold thereto, and retractible from said feeding plate thereafter to permit discharge of the creased material.

9. In a machine of the class described, a

plurality of bars arranged to receive mate-- rial laid thereon' for movement thereover, a slidable feed member yieldingly held in one adjustment by a spring and adapted to thrust the material alon said bars, a p urality of creasing rollers etween which said material is passed, and withdrawn thereby from said feed member, and a heating plate beyond the end of said supporting bars against which the creased material is thrust by said feed plate after creasing, and compressed to set a permanent fold in the material.

10. In amachine of the class described, a spring held feed plate, means to receive material laid thereover for movement by said feed plate, creasing rolls between which the material is passed to receive creases formed therein, a heating plate against which the creased material is thrust by said feed plate,-

and held until a p'ern'ianentfold is set in the material, mechanism retracting the heating plate, means holding the feed plate from movement toward the retracted heating plate, and mechanism operating to eject the folded material from the retracted heating plate for discharge from the machine.

11. In a machine of the class described,

a frame, a shaft journaled thereon, a plurality of cams mounted on said shaft, a feed ing mechanism, operative connections between said feeding mechanism and certain of said cams, creasing means for material placed in the machine operatively connected to be driven by said feeding mechanism with each actuation thereof, heating means against Iwhich the creased material is pressed to set a fold therein, said heating .means operatively connected with certain of said cams for retractive movement after folding and heating of the material, and'ejecting mechanism operating to eject the folded material and operatively connected for operation by the retractive movement of said heating means.

12. In a machine of the class described, feeding means for material, .cams for actuating the same, rack bar connections between said cams and feeding means, rotatable devices adapted to form a crease in the material and driven by said rack bars with each actuation of the feeding means, a heating mechanism against which the creased material is thrust by said feeding means to set a permanent fold therein, cams for retracting the heating mechanism from said feeding means, and ejecting mechanism mounted on said heating mechanism and actuated across the same with each retraction thereof to eject the folded material from the machine.

13. In a machine of the class described, mechanism for cre sing a sheet and a mechanism for advancing the sheet to the creasin means and acting after the sheet is creased ,to press the folds together.

14.111 a machine of the class described,

mechanism for creasing a sheet, a mechanism for advancing the .sheet to the creasin means and acting after the sheet is creased to press the folds together, and means for heating the compressed folds.

15. In a machine of the class described, mechanism for creasing a sheet, a mechanism for advancing the sheet to the creasing means and actin creased to press the olds together, means for heating the compressed folds and a positively actuated mechanism for ejecting the folded sheet after the same is, heated.

16. A machine for creasing, folding and compressing a paper sheet comprising creasing mechanisms and co-acting reciprocating and stationary mechanism for compressing the sheet after being creased.

17. A machine for creasing, folding and compressing a paper sheet comprising creasing mechanism, coacting reciprocating and stationary mechanism for compressing the sheet after being creased, and means for heating the compressed sheet.

18. A machine of the class described com; prising an advancing and compressing mem- Jer, means for actuating the same, means for permitting said men'iber to yield in one direction, creasing members and means for .actuating the creasing members.

19. A machine of the class described comprising an advancing and compressing member, means for actuating the same, means for permitting said member to yield in one direction, creasing members, means for actuating the creasing members, a member adapted to co-a'ct with the aforesaid member to ating the creasing members, a memberadaplr ed to cc-act with the aforesaid member to after the sheet is bars, an abutment plate connected therewith to yield in one direction, creasing mechanism and means connecting the same and the rack bars whereby the abutment plate and creasing mechanism act conjointly.

23. In a device of the class described, rack bars, an abutment plate connected therewith to yield in one dlrection, creasing mechanism, means connecting the same and the rack bars whereby the abutment plate and creasing, mechanism act conjointly and a simultaneously movable ejecting device for coactin with said abutment plate and creasing mec anism.

24. A machine of the class described comprising 'a support, a feed plate movable thereover, mechanism connected with said plate to positively advance the same, means for stopping'the plate after it has traveled a predetermined distance, means permitting the plate to yield relatively of the mechanism for advancing the same and adapted to return the plate to normal upon release of the plate from the stopping means, rotating toothed segment creasing rollers and means coacting with the plate to compress an artiticle creased.

25. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a feed plate movable thereover, mechanism connected with said plate to positlvely advance the same, means for stopping the plate after it has traveled a predetermined distance, means permitting the plate to yield relatively of the mechanism,for advancing the same and adapted to return the plate to normaLupon release of the plate from the stopping means and mechanism for coacting withrthe plate to compress a sheet therebetween.

" 26. A machine of the class described comprising a support, a feed plate movable thereover, mechamsm-connectcd with said .plate to positively advance the same, means for stopping the plate after it has traveled a predetermined distance, means permitting the plate to yield relatively of the mechanism for advancing the same and adapted to return the plate to normal upon release of the plate from the stopping means, mechanism-for coacting with the plate to compress a sheet therebetween and a mechanism between said last named mechanism and said plate for creasing the sheet prior to compression.

to return the plate to normal upon release.

of the plate from the stopping means, mechanism for c'oacting with the plate to compress a sheet therebetween, a mechanism between sald last named mechamsm and said plate for creasing the sheet prior to com 'pression, means for heating the sheet after it is compressed and an ejector for said sheet after beingheated.

28. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating feeding and compressing member and a reciprocating compressing and heating member for coacting therewith.

29. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocatin feeding and compressin member, a reciprocating compressing an heating member for coacting'therewith and'mechanism for crimping the sheet before compressing.

30. A machine of the class described comprising a reciprocating feeding and compressing member, a reciprocating compressing and heating member for coacting therewith, mechanism for crimping a sheet before compressing, a pivotally mounted ejector, means for positively actuating the same and a spring for returning the ejector to normal.

'31. In a machine of the class described. coacting creasing rollers having longitudinal teeth on part of their periphery and the remainder 0 their periphery being plain: and a member adapted to feed a sheet to said rollers to be creased and adapted 'to pass between tic plain portions of the rollers and fold the sheet after being creased.

32. In a machine of the class described.

coacting creasing rollers having longitudi-- nal teeth on part of their peripheries and the remainder of their peripheries being plain; a member adapted to feed a sheet to said rollers to be creased and adapted to pass between the plain portions of the rollers to fold the sheet after being creascd and an abutting member adapted to coact with said feeding member to compress the sheet.

33. In a machine of the class described, coactingcreasing rollers having longitudinal teeth on part of their peripheries and the remainder of their peripheries being plain, a member adapted to feed a shcebto said rollers to bc' creased and adapted to pass between the plain portions of the rollers to fold the sheet after being creased, an abutting member adapted to coact with said feeding member to compress the sheet,

means for applying sheet and means for compressed sheet.

34. In a machine of the class described, a support, coacting, feeding, folding and comlpressing mechanism, a rotary crimping anism acting on a sheet prior to compressing, and an oscillating ejecting mechanism for ejecting the finished article from the machine.

35. In a machine of the class described, a support for a sheet, co-acting feeding, and con'lpressing mechanisms for feeding the heat .to"the compressed ejecting; the heated and .sheet. over the support and compressing the same, a rotary crimping mea-nism for crlmping the sheet prlor t'o compresslon, an

oscillating ejecting mechanism, and a heating device adapted to heat the compressed sheet rior to ejection. v

36. fm a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of cooperating crimping elements, a flat grid support for a sheet to be crimped extending between and beyond said crimping elements, and a reciprocating feed plate slidably mounted on said grid support. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

KARL G. B. HAWKINS. Witnesses:

FRANK, A. Barman, J12, FRED E. PAESLER. 

